Dyers Compendium: 28th Massachusetts Infantry

Dyer’s Compendium
Frederick H. Dyer, July 2, 1849 – September 21, 1917, enlisted in the Union Army at the age of 14, serving as a Drummer Boy. After the war Dyer spent nearly 35 years collecting information and another 5 years compiling that information for publication. His work documented the regiments and their actions during the War of the Rebellion, which he self published (1908) under the title “A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion“. (This link is to a searchable on-line version of the Compendium.)

Below follows the Dyer’s Compendium entry for the 28th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment.


28th Regiment Infantry

Organized at Cambridge and Boston December 12, 1861. Left State for New York January 11, 1862. Duty at Fort Columbus, New York Harbor, until February 14. Sailed on Steamer “Erickson” for Hilton Head, S.C., February 14, arriving there February 23. Attached to Dept. of the South to April, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Dept. of the South, to July, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to December, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.–Moved to Dafuskie Island, S.C., April 7, 1862, and duty there until May –. (Cos. “A” and “K” detached at Jones and Bird Islands April 18-May 6. Cos. “A,” “C,” “D,” “F” and “K” moved to Tybee Island May 12 and duty there until May 28. Cos. “B,” “E,” “G,” “H” and “I” moved to Dafuskie Island and to Hilton Head May 28.) Operations on James Island, S.C., June 1-28. Skirmishes on James Island June 3-4. Battle of Secessionville June 16. Evacuation of James Island June 28-July 7. Moved from Hilton Head to Newport News. Va., July 14-18; thence to Aquia Creek and Fredericksburg August 3-6. Operations in support of Pope August 6-16. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Battles of Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30. Chantilly September 1. Maryland Campaign September-October. Battles of South Mountain September 14. Antietam September 16-17. March to Pleasant Valley September 19-October 2 and duty there until October 25. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 25-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth until April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 2-4. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Auburn and Bristoe October 14. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. At Stevensburg until May, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May-June. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Po River May 10; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 16-19. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1864. Demonstration on north side of the James July 27-29. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Ream’s Station August 25. Boydton Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Watkin’s House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Hatcher’s Run or Boydton Road March 31. White Oak Road March 31. Sutherland Station and fall of Petersburg April 2. Sailor’s Creek April 6. High Bridge and Farmville April 7. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. At Burkesville until May 2. March to Washington, D.C., May 2-15. Grand Review May 23. Duty at Washington until June 25. Mustered out June 29, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 15 Officers and 235 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 136 Enlisted men by disease. Total 387.

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